Students prepare to dig for clams during their Key to the Sea field trip. Photo: Heal the Bay
Key to the Sea students conducting a pre-field trip permeability experiment. Photo: Heal the Bay
Teachers take a break from the Quadrat-Craze activity in Key to the Sea's Workshop I. Photo: Heal the Bay
Key to the Sea Workshop II includes training and activities conducted on the beach. Photo: Heal the Bay
Veteran Key to the Sea Teachers can take their classes to the beach for many years to come! Photo: Heal the Bay

Important: ALL teachers, including veterans, who wish to participate in Key to the Sea must submit the Workshop Registration/Veteran Teacher Notification Form.

Workshop Descriptions and Veteran Teacher Participation

• Workshop I...is for K-5 teachers who are participating in Key to the Sea for the very first time. Topics are: marine conservation, watersheds, local marine life, the seashore environment, birds, pollution prevention, and more! Includes a supply-filled tote bag and curriculum notebook!

• The New Workshop II...is for K-5 teachers who completed Workshop I and participated in Key to the Sea last year. Note: This year, Workshops II and III have been combined into the New Workshop II. Topics which build upon the previous workshop are: waves and tides, sustainable seafood, habitats and organism adaptations, in-depth sandy beach environment, and more! Includes “make-and-take” teaching tools, curriculum folder, and a t-shirt!

• Veteran Teacher Participation...is for teachers who have completed Workshop I and Workshop II. There are no further workshops to attend in order to have a Key to the Sea field trip for many years to come. Still, it is mandatory that veteran teachers submit the Workshop Registration/Veteran Teacher Notification Form. This form helps ensure that teachers receive cameras, gift cards, enviro-frames, and other supplies.

Steps to Do the Key to the Sea Program

1. Schedule a field trip.
Review the Field Trip Options and contact one of the participating local marine science centers to schedule your class field trip. Make sure you request the Key to the Sea program. A confirmed field trip date is required to register for your workshop. (Note: Some field trip locations may have additional costs associated with them. Please refer to the Field Trip Options page. Buses are not provided; however, some funding may be available. Call us at 310-451-1500 x147 for more information.)

2. Submit the Registration/Notification Form.
New! One form fits all!  ALL teachers participating in the Key to the Sea program, including veterans, must submit their own form.  Register via the online Registration/Notification Form, or by mail or fax with the printable form (PDF - requires Adobe Reader). A confirmation will be sent upon successful registration.

3. Attend a Workshop (Year 1 and Year 2 Teachers) and Prepare Your Students.
Use your training and the provided curriculum, along with our online Teaching Aids, to prepare your class for the field trip.

4. Hit the Beach!
Take your students on their Beach Exploration field trip to your chosen marine science center.

5. Do Post-Field Trip Classroom Activities.
After the field trip, your students will enjoy the ever-popular enviro-frames and photos, along with any other post-field trip lessons you conduct.

6. Send Back Your Post-Program Evaluation of the Key to the Sea Program.
After you have taken your field trip and done the classroom activities, please fill out the Post-Program Evaluation, which can be found in your Workshop I Curriculum Notebook and/or was handed out at your workshop or field trip.  This helps to secure future funding and to improve the program.  If you would like a copy of the evaluation, please contact us, 310-451-1500 x147.

Thank You!

Heal the Bay thanks you and the hundreds of other teachers for your time, effort, and involvement in Key to the Sea. It is YOUR participation, skill and talent that makes Key to the Sea a fun and effective way to empower children to be future stewards of the environment.